New York, NY

As one of the major metropolitan areas of the United States, New York City is a very large hub for all forms of entertainment. It is probably best known to most of the world as the host for some of the country's most critically acclaimed and long-lived theater productions. It is also a mandatory stop for most recording artists and bands, who play venues of all sizes. Sports is similarly well represented with teams such as the New York Yankees, Giants, and Knicks calling the city home. | Read more below »

New York City Guide

Quick Facts

About

New York City is not only just a hub for entertainment, but also commerce, fashion, politics, and culture. It is home to the United Nations, and many of the world's largest companies have their headquarters in the city. The city has also been the setting of many a movie, television show, and comic; most notably, the fictional Gotham City of Batman fame is based on parts of Manhattan. With five boroughs, New York is very large. However, it is an accessible city that offers a lot for visitors, from tickets to all kinds of events, to great dining and beyond.

Broadway is major the hub of theater activity in New York, but theaters are spread throughout the city.

Theater

New York has been a haven for the arts since the 18th century. Theater productions arrived in waves throughout the 19th century and the first musical was performed in New York in the 1850s. Broadway rose to prominence in the early 20th century and has been one of the dominant regions for the theatre world ever since.

New York theaters host some of world's best known productions, with everything from the works of William Shakespeare to modern productions such as Wicked. The city is home to dozens of theaters and auditoriums.

Concerts

New York City is routinely placed on the tour schedules of artists and bands due to its central location in the northeast United States. Concerts can be found in buildings of all sizes, from the 20,000 seat Madison Square Garden to the 2,800 seat Beacon Theatre.

New York's Carnegie Hall was the location of The Beatles' second concert in the United States in 1964 and Shea Stadium was the location of their first 1965 U.S. tour date, and was the first major stadium concert ever played. Since then hundreds of acts have come through New York every year.

Sports

Yankee Stadium, located in The Bronx.

New York is home to a number of sports teams from all of the major leagues. One of the best known teams is the Bronx-based New York Yankees, which is the city's oldest still-residing team of any sport. Baseball is also represented by the Queens-based New York Mets.

The other leagues are represented by one team a piece, including the Giants (who play in New Jersey) and Jets in the NFL, the Knicks in the NBA, the Liberty in the WNBA, and the Rangers in the NHL. The city will gain a second NBA team when the nearby New Jersey Nets move to Brooklyn prior to the 2012-2013 season.

Other teams located close by include the Long Island-based New York Islanders hockey team and the New Jersey-based Devils hockey team.

Dining

New York offers a full range of dining options, from the upscale, expensive restaurant, to any number of fast-food chains. The city's position as the crossroads of the world, fueled by waves of immigration that continue to this day, means that it has a very eclectic choice of cuisine. Food from almost every culture is represented in New York, making it one of the few places in the world someone can find any kind of food they want.

Other Attractions

New York City provides many attractions for visitors other than live entertainment. For example, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building are popular destinations for visitors wishing to see the two historic structures and a bird's eye view of the city. The city is also home to dozens of museums, including the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

New York has a number of parks and other open spaces, the most famous of which is Manhattan's Central Park. Other parks throughout the boroughs include Lower Manhattan's Battery Park, Pelham Bay Park in The Bronx, Flushing Meadows in Queens, and the Greenbelt on Staten Island. The Bronx Park in the center of that borough contains the New York Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo.

New York is known for its vibrant nightlife. Hundreds of bars and nightclubs are spread throughout the city.

New York City has an extensive subway system.

Transportation

From buses to subways to taxis to ferries, New York provides many options for getting around the city. The New York Subway was opened in 1904 and today consists of 209 miles of routes. The main system extends throughout all the boroughs except Staten Island. However, the island has a traditional railway version of the system called the Staten Island Railway. Staten Island is itself connected to Manhattan by the Staten Island Ferry, as well as other privately-owned ferry services.

Other options for getting around the city include the city-run bus system, the ever-recognizable yellow taxis, privately-run pedicab and dollar bus systems, personal vehicles, and walking.